The PEN Canada Graeme Gibson Talk is an annual conversation between writers with expert knowledge of an urgent political, social, cultural or economic issue. The event was established in 2021 to honour the Canadian author and writers’ advocate, Graeme Gibson.

The 2026 PEN Canada Graeme Gibson Talk brings together Wall Street Reporter Evan Gershkovich, Canadian author and broadcast journalist Carol Off, and international human rights lawyer and writer Philippe Sands in conversation with Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC Ideas.

In March 2023, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was dragged into an unmarked van by FSB agents and imprisoned for 500 days; a pawn in a geopolitical chess match. His extraordinary memoir This Cursed Beautiful Land (2026) chronicles his arrest, imprisonment and eventual release.

Broadcast journalist and author Carol Off’s latest book, At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage is a national #1 Bestseller. She recently completed a sixteen year run as the co-host of the multi-award winning radio program, As It Happens.

Philippe Sands, KC, is an international lawyer, professor of law at University College London and Samuel Pisar visiting professor at Harvard Law School. His books include East West Street (2016), The Ratline (2020), The Last Colony (2020), and 38 Londres Street (2025).

The PEN Canada Graeme Gibson Talk is an annual conversation between writers with expert knowledge of an urgent political, social, cultural or economic issue. The event was established in 2021 to honour the Canadian author and writers’ advocate, Graeme Gibson.